Switch mechanism



Sept. 6,1927. 1,641,219

- c. P. BRADLEY SWITCH MECHANISM Filed March 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W5, lnventdr Attorney c. P. BRADLEY swn'cn MECHANISM Filed'March 25. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nun r 55 5g 47 Inventor CfifimcZZqy,

4 Attorney switch thru the successive operation of. the 1 Patented Sept. 6; 1927;

. CECIL r. BRADLEYQQF narorinoiv, 0111c;

swrrcn MEoHAivIsM.

This invention relates to switch construetions which are particularly adapted for use in electric light sockets, wall boxes, chandefied form of structure.

liers, or other forms of electric fixtures for controlling one or a plurality of 'lamps through the operation of a single pull chain or push button.

An objectofithe invention resides in pro viding a switch mechanism which is operable to control aplurality of electric lights such as used in chandeliers or otherforms of electric fixtures for controlliiiga plurality oflights by the operation of a single pull chain or'push button so that one or more of construction shown in Fig. 9.

the lamps may be placed in circuit and "lighted or all extinguished in a predetermined manner by, the operation of the pull chain or push button.

A further" object of the invention resides in providing a. switch constructionffor devices of the type above'mentionedin which a plurality of stationarycontacts are constructed in duplicate form and removably attached to a suitable base-member which The invention 1 incorporates numerous other objects and features in the details of construction and the, arrangement of parts which are more particularly pointed out in the following detailed description and in the claims directed to a preferred form of the invention, it being understood, however, that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of these parts may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as herein set forth. i i In the drawings forming part of. this application: r y V s Figure lis a plan view of a switch construction made in accordance with this invention shownon a substantially enlarged scale. f

Fig. 2 is anend elevation of the switch structure shown in Fig. 1, i

Fig. 3'is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3 aofFi -1; I Fi t i is a sectional view taken on the line of Fig. 1i

Application filed March 25,' 1926. Seria1 -N o. 97,318.

F igf5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5'5 of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 s a plan view of a slightly modiciples of this'invention.

Fig. 1.0 is a sectional view taken on line lQ -lO of Fig. '9. a

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the switch Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional view thru the st,at1onary contact -structure of the switch shown in Fig. 9, illustrating the arrangement of the stationary contacts for gooperation with the rotatable contact mem A base plate is indicated. at 1 at the opposite endsgof which are mounted a pair of bearing brackets 2 in which is rotatably mounted the shaft 3. The rotatable contact member lin'the form of a hollow cylinder is'provided with closed ends as indicated at I 5 which ZLIG'IDOUIItQCl on the shaft 3 for rotation therewith," the central portion of the body of the cylinder between the ends being formed in the cut out portion 6 having a plurality of circumferentially spaced shoulders 7 arranged in stepped relation as clearly illustrated in Figs. land 5 of the" drawings."v

The left hand end of tact member 4: is formed to provide a plurality of ratchet teeth 8 arranged in the same axial plane as the shoulder 7 of the cut outportion 6 in order that the resilient the cylindrical con pawl 9 mounted on the base -1 will cooperate with the shoulders 8 of the ratchet teeth formed on the cylindrical contact member and prevents the same from rotating in one direction. The opposite end of the cylindric'al contact member t is formed with a plurality of beveledprojections l0 extending laterally from the end wall 5 thereof to provide another series of teeth adapted for cooperation with the operating device 11 on the rotatable operatingmember 12'.

This operating member 112 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 3 and is normally ro tated one direction by the. operation of the coiled spring 13 surrounding the shaft 3 and having one end anchored in the member 12 and the opposite end anchored in the bracket 2, carried by the base. This melaber 12 is provided with an operating handle Iii, extending through the guide mounted on the base which is adapted to limit the stroke of movement of the handle 14' and the stroke or amount of rotation at the member 12. In this way, the handle lt is adapted to be moved through a stroke of operation governed by the guide 15 which will produce a cooperation betweenthe operating member and the feet 1-0 on the check memher so as to rotate the cylindrical contact member one step for each cycle of operation in the operating member 14.

The resilient stationary pawl 9 cooperates with the ratchet teeth 8 on the cylinder at to prevent reverse rotation after one step of movement through the operation of the lever 14:. In this way, the cylinder is rotated in a step by step movement for each reciprocation o l? the lever 1 1 so that the step shoulders T will successively engage with the respective stationary contactstrips .1 6 for energizing or deenergizing the respective circuits connected with said stationary contacts.

These stationary contacts; 16 are formed of resilient strip material having laterally extending end portions 1? extending upwardly and adaptedfor resilient engagement with the periphery of the contact cylinder i so that in the rotation thereof the cylinder through the provision otthe recess 6 and the shoulder construction 7 will suecessively engage predetermined of these resilient contacts 16 for closing the control circuit in a predetermined manner. These stationary contacts 16 are received: in grooves 18 formed" in amounting block 19 which is suitably secured to the base member 1 for obtainingthe stationary contact 16 in rigid relation on the base member.

This construction permits the ready as sembly and adjustment of the-stationary contacts for proper cooperation with the periphery of the rotatable contact cylinder 4:5-th3 securingelement 20 serving to rigidly lock the stationary contact member 16' in position on the base 1 when operated to tightly secure the block member 19 thereto. The cylinder structure forms aparticular feature of this construction in which the opposite ends are closed and for ed with ratchet teeth for cooperation with the pawl 9" and the operating; member 1 2-, while the central portionis hollow and cutaway to provide the controlling contact shoulders adapted for engagement and circuit closing cooperation with the stationary contacts 011 the base. Y

In Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive, a substantially similar construction is shown which includes a base 21 on which is mounted a pair of bearing brackets 22 in alined relation rotatably mounting the shaft 23 carrying the rotatable contact body This contact body 24 is of cylindrical structure having a plurality oila-rcuate annular projectizuis 25 formed in spaced relation lcnglhi'vise oi the body thereof. These projections are of unequal length and have one end of each projection terminating in the same axial plane as indicated at 26 in Fig. 8, while the opposite ends terminate in stepped relation ci-rcu-mterentially, as isillustrated at 29 in Fig, 8, and are beveled for a purpose which will presently appear.

One end of the body, as shown at the left hand end of Figs. 6 and 7 is formed with anannular flange 30 formed to pro vide a number of ratchet teeth corresponding with the number of points 29 at which the areuate projections 25 terminate, so that the body may be retained against reverse rotation after each SUCCBSSlVQ stepped operation thereof. For this purpose a resilient stationary pawl 31 cooperates with the ratchet teeth of the flange 30 in retaining the body against rotation in one direction. The opposite end of the body 24 is formed to provide ratchet teeth 32 as shown clearly in Fig. 6,; with which: cooperates the operating member 33 .sli-dably and 1'otlatabl mounted onthe shaft 23 and formed with ratchet teeth 34:. The coiled spri-ng is mount-edon the shaft 23* and has one end a-nchored'in the bearing bracket 22 while the opposite end is secured to the operating member 33 and normally serves to rotate it in one, direction, so that the operating lever 36 extending through the guide bracket 37 limits the rotative movement of the operating member under the action of the spring. This guide bracket 37 also limits the rotative movement under the operation of the lever 36 so that it will be moved to one step of movement for rotating the body 24 a step of movement for each operation of the operating member- 33 and the lever 36. A block member 38 is mounted" on the base member or plate in spaced parallel relation to the body 24: and formed with a plurality slots 39 exten fling transverse ly across the .tace oi" the body member disposed toward the body 2% and in alinedrelation with the arr-Hate 'grojcctiug flanges 25 to form guides tor resilient ('ou tact terminals 40 of the contact members 41. Thesecontact members are of substantially U-sh ape in construction as illustrated clearly in Fig. 8, and have the portions 42 joining the legs seated grooves 43 formed in the face of the block adjacent the baseplate and the endopposite the resilient contactportions 40 seated in grooves 44 and retained therein by the securing plates 45secured to the block 38 by suitable means indicated at 42.

As the operating lever 36 is Operated through each stroke of movement, "it will be seen that one of the annular flanges '25 will be successivelyengaged with the corresponding contact end 40. of the contact members so as to successively close the circuit connected therewith, a 7 common circuit from the source of power being attached to one of the bearing brackets 22 so that the body 24 forms a movable contact member of the switch mechanism.- Theblock member 38 and the securing plate serve to rigidly mount the contact members on the base plate and to provide guides for' the ends 40 to permit the free movement thereof under the operation of the flanges 25 so that efficient contact will beconstantlyinsuredl A pull chain or push button structure may be connected to the operating lever 36 and extended through, any housing structure for the switch member to entirely enclose the same so that the operation of" either the switch button or pull chain as the case may be, can be utilized to produce the stroke of movement of the operating lever 36 for rotating the body 24 through a stepbystep motion. Y I p v Figs. 9 to 12 show that the same idea-1s carriedout with a slightly different form of switch construction wherein thebase plate 47 mounts the shaft 48 whichextends laterally therefrom and is positioned in the cen terto rotatably support the movable con tact plate 49 adapted forrotation thereon which has its periphery cut away in stepped relation as indicated at 50 to provide a plurality of shoulders 51" in spaced circumferential relation. The central portion of the contact plate 49 is formed with ratchet teeth 52 with which cooperates the teeth of the operating member 54, which carries the arm 55 extending laterally there from in spaced parallel relation with the base 47 for receiving a suitable pull chain 56 or the like, by which the operatinglever may be moved through the stroke of move-.

ment between the stop pins '57,' mounted on' the base plate.

A suitable resilient member 58 engages the movable contact plate 49 and serves to hold it in contact with the bearing washer 59., the resilient member '58 being secured as indicated at 60 to one. edge portion of the base.

Directly under the resilient member 58 as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the base plate is formed with aplurality of radially alined openings 61 which receive a plurality of contact members 62 having end portions 63 formed to extend in inclined relation to the base plate 47 to provide a cam surface for engagement with the movable contact plate.

These contact members are formed of resil-' ient wire or other material and having the portions 64 adapted for axial movement through the opening 61 while the end portion 65 is secured at its free end to the contact or binding post 66. These binding posts are mounted on the upper sides of the base plate as shown in FigQll and arranged adjacent the corner portions thereof.

A'coiled spring'67 is mounted on the v shaft 48 and has one end anchoredvin the flange'68 on the end of said shaft while the opposite end is anchored in the operating member 54 so as to normally tendv to rotate the contact plate'in one direction to hold the operating lever in engagement with one of the stops 57. Upon each operation of the "pull chain 56 or other operating member used to move the lever through one stroke to engage the opposite stop 57, the

ratchet teeth 53 will cooperate with the teeth 52 on the'contact member and rotate sai'dmemberthrough one step of movement,

which will causeone of the shoulders 51 to closed to light one or more or all of the lamps as desired through the successive operation of the operating member of the switch construction employed, such as 14 in Fig. 1, and upon thefurther operation of which the circuit to all of the lights may be simultaneously opened to extinguish the light or if desired successively broken through the successive operation of the lever 14 by providing a stepped construction sim as indicated at 70 in Fig. 1, so that the circuit to the lamps may be successively ilar to the shoulders 7 of the contact body 1 4 on the opposite'ends of the recess or cutaway portion 6 formed therein. p A further feature of the inventionre- 7 sides in providing a structure which is inex pensive to manufacture, through the use of the specially constructed block and plate mechanism for the resilient contacts which is adapted to efficiently retain the contact in assembled relation on the base plate and also through the special construction of the movable contact members in either the cylindrical form as shown in Figs. 1 and 6 or in a plate-like'form as shown in Fig. 9, to-

gether with the simple structure of the operating member used in the several constructions illustrated.

Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim as new is: p

1. A circuit closer comprising a base plate,

a shaft mounted on said base plate, a cylin drical contact member 'rotatably mounted on said shaft having a plurality of otl'set shoulders, said contact member having a ratchet formed on one end thereof, an annular operating member rotatably mounted on the shaft having a ratchet for cooperation with the ratchet onthe contact member, a coiled spring on the shaft normally expansible to move the operating member into engagement with the contact member, and a plurality of resilient strip members secured to the base plate adjacent one end in spaced parallel relation, the opposite end resiliently projecting into the path of movement of the movable contact member and the shoulders thereon.

2. circuit closer, comprising a base plate, a path having one end monnted in said base plate and projecting laterally therefrom, a contact member rotatably mounted upon said shaft adjacent said base plate, having a ratchet formed. on one end thereof, an operating ratchet member rotatably mounted on said shaft adjacent said contact. member and having the ratchet formed thereon adapted for cooperation with the ratchet on the contact member, a coiled spring having one end secured to the end portion of said shaft, and mounted on said shaft with the opposite ends connected with said ratchet member for normally r0- tati'ng saidratchet member in one direction, means on the base plate for limiting the rotation of the ratchet member by said coiled spring, and a plurality of resilient contact strips mounted in spaced parallel relation on said base plate and projecting into the pathof movement of said contact member for circuit closing cooperation, therewith.

- I In testimony W iereof I allix my signature.

CECIL P. BRADLEY. 

